Device to check needle motion of axminster looms



Sept. 27, 1927.

K. J. UNWIN ET AL Filed Dec. 1, 1925 DEVICE TO CHECK NEEDLE MOTION OF AXMINSTER LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lire/Mora 00869 J [low/77 Maw p 27 K. J. UNWIN ET AL DEVICE TO CHECK NEEDLE MOTION OF AXMINSTER LOOMS Fil'ed Dec. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KENNETH J. UNWIN, OF SHREVVSBURY, AND WALTER H. WAKEFIELD, OF WORCESTER,

I MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCES- TER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE TO CHECK NEEDLE MOTION 0F AXMINSTER LOOMS.

Application filed December 1, 1825. Serial No.

This invention relates to needle motions for Axminster looms and is the general object of the invention to check the needle as the latter nears the end of its inner or weft laying stroke.

coapending application Serial No. 72,125 shows a continuous chain located adjacent the path of the needle carrier and having a series of projections to engage a pivoted dog movable with the needle. The chain drives a sprocket fastened to a friction head and a friction band retards movement of the head and chain so as to bring the needle to rest gradually and without rebounding. It is an important object of our invention to simplify this construction by employing an endless band of flexible 'friction material such as leather to be engaged directly by the dog and trained around fixed friction surfaces along which it is' moved to resist movement of the needle.

It is another object of our invention to provide the endless friction members with a series of symmetrical lugs or abutments so formed that the friction member may be reversed to present new wearing surfaces to the dog which moves with the needle and a further object of our invention is to arrange the abutments in groups or sets the elements of which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the checking movement of the dog so that when one group becomes worn the' friction band may be slipped around until the members of another group or set become operative.

It is a still further object of our invention to improve upon the dog which cooperates with the abutments to the end that the same may be reversed on its longitudinal and transverse axes so as to present a plurality of wearing surfaces to the abutments, the dog being so proportioned that in any of its positions it will be held by gravity in such position as to cooperate with the abutments.

Still another object of our invention is to arranged the endless member of the friction element so that the portion of it which cooperates with the dog will be oblique to the path of the axis of the dog so that as checking continues the flexible member will be bound more and more tightly against the fixed friction surfaces.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, our

invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein we have shown a convenient embodiment of of our invention,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the needle oti o n A m nster loom a ing our invention applied thereto showing the parts at the end of the weft laying stroke of the e l Fig. 2 is an enlarge rear el vation of he d e member and associated par s as they appear just after the beginning of the withdrawing movement of the needle.

P F ig. 3 is a vertical Section on line of Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear elevation taken in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an end elevaton taken in the direction of arrow 5, F ig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6ft; of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a Vertical section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that we have provided a needle frame 10 which supports a needle rail 11 having a groove 12 receiving ashoe 13 of needle carrier 14. A needle 15 is secured to and moves with the carrier and the latter is provided with a cap 16 between which and the carrier is clamped a cable 17. Said cable is trained around outer and inner sheaves 18 and 19, respectively, and has the free ends secured to a drum 20. Said drum is rigid with a pinion 21 meshing with asegment 22 pivoted as at 23 and receiving reciprocating movement from a pitman 24 having a crank motion. The matter thus far described is of well-known construction and is substantially the same as that in common use.

In carrying out our improvements We secure a pair of stands 30 to the needle rail and provide each stand with an upstanding arm 31. Said stands are provided with slots 32 through which extend securing bolts 33 threaded into the rail, the stands being thus movable longitudinally along the rail to vary their adjustment. Secured to each stand is a friction head 34 provided with a pair of slots35 through WhlCll extend bolts edpass mg into the ad acent arm 31 to adore vertidal ad ustinent of the friction heads 84.

' ity of openings 45 and 46, respectively, each As shown in Fig. 3 each frictionhead is vided with flanges 37 between which lies an endless friction strap or belt 38. Said strap 38 extends around both friction heads and has secured thereto a series of abutments which as shown herein are arranged in two groups or sets, the abutments of the first group or set being indicated at 39, 39, 39, and 39, while the abutments of the other group are indicated at 40, 40", 40, and 40, respectively. Said abutments may be secured to the strap as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 by means of rivets 41 or other securing means. The needle carrier l4-has rearward ly extending therefrom astud 42 extending above lug-43 and a: dog 44 having a pluralproportioned to receive the stud 42. Said dog is pivoted on'the stud 42" with the latter passing through opening 45as shown in Fig. 4, and is =further provided with abutment engaging ends 47 and 48, respectively, which are defined 'by faces '49 equally inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the dog. Said dog is seen tobe symmetrical about the longitudinal axis which passes through the openings 45 and-46 and also symmetrical about its transverse axis passing through the center of the dog and perpendicular to the axes of openings 45 and 46.

Under normal operation'the pitman 24 is moved back and forth by means of mechanism not shown to give the drum 20 a rotary motion first in one direction and then in the other direction, the cable 17 being pulled around sheave 19 when the needle is to be given its weft laying inward stroke and said cable being pulled around sheave 18 on the needle withdrawing stroke. As the-needle moves inwardly and-approachesthe end of its stroke the upwardlyextending end-47 of the dog will engage abutment 3'9 and move the same from a position under the left hand friction head 34-shown in iFig; 2 to'the position shown in Fig. 1, thus moving the'strap or band 38 around the heads34 against frictional resistance to retard the movement of the needle. Lug 43 on the needle carrier serves to position the dog with respect to'the' carrier and hold it in engagement with the abutments. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the portion of. the band 38 which lies adjacent the path of the carrier 14 is normally inclined with respect to said path, being nearer the needle at the inner end than at the outer end. This results in a progressivelv increasin friction between the band 38 and the friction heads as the needle continues to move toward the end of its weft laying stroke as indicated in F ig.1.. The lower portion of the band or strap is moved upwardly substantially lengthening said lower portion and causing the band to fit more tightly against the friction heads. On the withdrawing :movementa'of -the needle prothe dog moves freely on its pivot to pass underthe abutments which it engages as seen in Fig.

It will be seen by referring to Figs. 2 and 7 that the dog engaging walls of-the abutnients carried-by the strap are similarly. but obliquely disposed with respect to the strap and when one of the sets of ,abutments becomes worn the strap may be given a movement by hand to bring the other group or set into action. When one side of all the abutments are worn the bolts 33- of one of the stands may be loosened to permit reversal of the strap 38so' that-fresh surfaces ofthe abutments may be exposed to the action of the dog. Obviously, a greater number of different groups of'abutments could be employed than are set forth in the drawlugs.

l/Vhen the dog is worn it maybe reversed on its longitudinal axis keeping the stud in" opening 45 and when it is desirable to present additional new faces to the abutments the stud may be made to fit in the opening 46. thus enabling the dogto assumesfour positions. It will be seenthatbecauseof the two openings 45 and 46 the center of gravity of the dog is to one side'of stud 42 and the dog therefore tendsto fall by gravity against lug 43 and be held in proper position for engagement with the friction element.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a friction element which is engaged directly by apart movingfwith the" needle and that'both the friction strap and the pivoted dog are reversible to ,present a multiplicity of wearing surfaces. It will further be seen that the abutments are arranged in a plurality of groups or sets so re- 2 lated that any group or set may be made operative with respect to the dog. .It 'will also be seen that the dog is capable of support at a plurality ofpolntseach of which is spaced from thecenter of gravity of the dog so that the latter will always assume -the proper position forengaging-the friction element but can be moved about its axis when the needle is being withdrawn to .permit easy withdrawal 'as indicatedin Fig. 2. It will further be noted that the abutments on that part of the friction element adjacent the needle lie normally in aipath oblique to the path of the movement of the needle. so that the checking effect is gradually increased toward the end of the yarn inserting movement of the needle. Obviously, the withdrawing movement isin no way resisted by the friction element. 7

=Having thus described our invention it: will be apparent that changes and modifica} tions may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and we do not wish to be limitedto the details hereinvdis 1. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog moving with the needle, and a friction element positioned adjacent the path of travel of the needle provided with a set of abutments to be operated successively by direct contact with the dog.

2. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog movable with the needle, a friction element located adjacent the path of movement of the needle and dog, said element having a portion extending along the path of travel of the needle to be engaged directly by the dog, and fixed friction devices around which the ele ment moves.

3. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog movable with the needle, fixed friction faces, a flexible member engaging said faces and resisted in movement by contact therewith, and a set of spaced abntments carried by the friction member to have contact with the dog and cause movement of said member around the friction faces.

4. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle rail, a needle carrier movable along the rail. a dog mounted on the carrier, a friction element including an endless member movable in a fixed path. aset of spaced abutments located on the member and having opposite substantially similar faces, one of said abutments always being in the path of the dog and said member being reversible to present a new set of abutment. faces to the dog.

5. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle rail, a needle carrier movable along the rail, a friction device to resist movement of the needle, and a dog pivotally mounted on the needle carrier to engage the friction device, said dog being symmetrically formed about an axis thereof and being reversible to present a new face to the friction element.

6. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle rail, a needle carrier movable along the rail, a pivot on the carrier, a friction element to resist motion of the needle, a dog on the pivot of the carrier for contact with the element, said dog having a plurality of openings therethrough each of which may cooperate with the pivot so that the dog can be moved to a plurality of positions to present new wearing faces to the friction element.

7. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle rail, a needle carrier movable along the rail, a pivot on the carrier, a friction element to resist motion of the needle, a dog mounted on the pivot for contact with the element, said dog having a plurality of openings therethrough each of which may cooperate with the pivot so that the dog can be moved to a plurality of positions to present new wearing faces to the friction element, the center of gravity of said dog lying between the openings therein.

8. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle rail, a needle carrier movable therealong, a pivot on the carrier, a friction element to resist motion of the needle, and a dog pivot-ally mounted on the carrier to engage the friction element, said dog being syi'nmetrical about its longitudinal and transverse axes and having an opening on each side of one of the axes, either opening being proportioned to receive the pivot.

9. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog movable with the needle, a flexible friction element disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the dog and having a portion normally oblique with respect to the path of said dog, and friction means to guide the flexible member. said flexible element being deformable to have an increased length thereof in contact with the friction means as the needle and dog near the end of their stroke.

10.111 a needle motion for Axminster looms. a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog movable with the needle. a flexible friction element having a portion extending adjacent to but normally oblique to the path of the dog, fixed friction guides for the friction element, and spaced abutments carried by the friction element having faces to contact with the dog, the portion of the friction element adjacent the path of movement of the dog being deformable to have increased contact with the friction guides when the dog engages one of the abutments.

11. In a needle motion for Axminster looms, a needle having yarn inserting and withdrawing movements, a dog movable with the needle, an endless flexible friction member to have contact with the dog at spaced points, and friction devices to resist movement of the endless member, said devices being so placed that the portion of the friction element adjacent the end of the stroke is nearer the path of the dog than the portion of the friction element remote from the end of the stroke.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto afl ixed our signatures.

KENNETH J. 'UNWIN. WALTER H. WAKEFIELD. 

